For months, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 179 in Plattsburgh has been trying to raise money to replace the van they use to drive Veterans to the V-A hospital in Albany. Volunteers drive veterans to Albany about 10 times a month. The van being used now has nearly 200-thousand miles on it and needs to be replaced. With the help of fundraising by Saranac Central School soccer teams & students, and the local band Beartracks, the DAV has reached its goal and raised the 40,000 dollars it needed to replace the van. During a ceremony on Veterans Day, the students presented the DAV with a check for more than 28-thousand dollars. And Beartracks raised 12-thousand dollars in donations at their concerts this summer. Tom Venne, who is a veteran, performed a song he wrote for the DAV at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Plattsburgh this month. Sales of the CD are also benefiting local veterans. More info on Beartracks’ Tribute to Disabled American Veterans: www.facebook.com/beartracksband.